Renee Mary Benson

Renee Mary Benson, 65, of Onaway, died at home Thursday, October 10, 2024. The daughter of David and Elaine (Valentine) Kaffenberger, Renee was born in Tacoma, Washington September 12, 1959. In 1977, she graduated from Brandon High School in Ortonville, where she met the love of her life, Gregory Benson. The high school sweethearts were soulmates and married November 5, 1977, at St. Anne Catholic Church in Ortonville.

During their 47 years of marriage, Renee and Greg made their home in Goodrich for 23 years where they raised their six children. In 2014, they took to the road and headed to North Dakota for Greg’s work. In 2018, they moved for the last time making Onaway their forever home. Renee encouraged her son and daughter-in-law to buy the local flower shop in Onaway and helped with deliveries, arranging bouquets and keeping store hours. Living in Onaway meant she was a short drive to see family in St. Helen where her siblings, children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews would gather at her parents’ home to celebrate the Fourth of July. Renee always looked forward to this fun tradition of camping with family, watching the fireworks and spending time with everyone she loved.

Renee was talented in so many aspects of life. She was an amazing thrift shopper who always found the best deals. Renee enjoyed QVC shopping and browsing antique stores. She had the unique ability to buy the perfect gift for everyone. Renee made everyone feel special with her heartfelt presents and personal handwritten cards. Renee was also an incredible cook and baker, who loved to make dinner for her family. It was hard to beat Renee’s home cooking, especially her homemade lasagna, potpies, and scrumptious chicken tetrazzini. She baked delightful cakes and was known to bake her delicious holiday cookies anytime of the year. 

Renee loved British Broadcasting and had a slew of favorite British television shows that she watched regularly. She was an avid reader, loved flower gardening, and enjoyed making her home warm and inviting. Long before Pinterest, Renee began keeping binders of ideas for her home, gardens, recipes and crafts from photos and articles she clipped from the pages of magazines. She recently discovered that she enjoyed watching the birds as they came to the feeders in her yard. And she loved music…Renee’s taste in music ranged from classical piano instrumentals to the story songs of Cat Stevens, and the country sounds of the Mavericks. 

Most importantly, Renee had an incredible love for her family and excelled at supporting them through the many passions and difficulties of their lives. Her husband, children and grandchildren were Renee’s whole life. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t brag about her eight grandchildren. She insisted they wouldn’t be raised by strangers while their parents worked, so she cared for them since they were babies. Renee spent her life improving the lives of others and loved every minute of it. She was a wonderful daughter and sister, a devoted wife and mother, and above all others, a caring and forever present grandmother who would do anything for her family. “We will remember Renee for her loving nature, her acts of giving and her occasional endearing stubbornness.” 

Renee will be forever missed by many.

  Her husband of 47 years, Gregory; sons, Michael (Robin), Adam (Jenn), Christopher (Nina), Andrew (Danielle) and Stewart; a daughter, Rachel; the grandchildren she adored, Aubrey, Jonas, Phineas, Hanklin, Daisy, Dewayne, Lucas and Landon; and a great-granddaughter, Violet Marie. Also surviving is Renee’s mother, Elaine Kaffenberger; brothers, Scott and David (Amy) Kaffenberger; a sister, Laurie Kaffenberger; as well as nieces, nephews and friends.

Renee was preceded in death by her father, David Kaffenberger; and two brothers, Paul and Steven Kaffenberger.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Chagnon Funeral Home where Renee’s family will receive friends Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For those planning an expression of sympathy, please consider a donation in memory of Renee to her family to help with final expenses. You can honor the life of Renee by embracing your family, spending time with those you love, and living life to the fullest each day.

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